At its most virtuous, I would call it a way of saying "I cannot / will not be forced to say or do something I disagree with, nor will I stay silent if I do disagree." That's useful for minority political opinions, for example.
The flip side is when it's used as a way of ignoring inconvenient facts in an attempt to give one's contrary opinion greater weight.
One other thought about opinions, but only for nerds:
This engineer thinks he's discovered how bots and AI are being used to turn Americans against each other. The methods of propaganda are nothing new, but I think he's looking at the right technical things to prove his point.
Where do these questions that you pose on your blog come from? Are these things that your students bring up, or are they questions that you yourself ask?
13 comments:
At its most virtuous, I would call it a way of saying "I cannot / will not be forced to say or do something I disagree with, nor will I stay silent if I do disagree." That's useful for minority political opinions, for example.
The flip side is when it's used as a way of ignoring inconvenient facts in an attempt to give one's contrary opinion greater weight.
Too often it means, "'Shut up!' he explained."
I second what Legion wrote. The justification for saying "I have a right to my own opinion" depends on the motivation for saying such a thing.
Isn't Victor really asking if you think you have this "right to an opinion" then on what basis do you have that right?
If rights are determined by "society", then if "society" determines you don't have that right, well then you simply don't. Right?
But if you do have a God-given right to an opinion then who can take it away?
Speaking of opinions.
Why all of the bias against Tulsi Gabbard vs Kamala Harris?
One other thought about opinions, but only for nerds:
This engineer thinks he's discovered how bots and AI are being used to turn Americans against each other. The methods of propaganda are nothing new, but I think he's looking at the right technical things to prove his point.
Victor,
Where do these questions that you pose on your blog come from? Are these things that your students bring up, or are they questions that you yourself ask?
These are questions I pose to students who reflect certain of their common beliefs, typically defensive relativist perspective.
I imagine that Victor is grateful that this bunch has not shown up for his class.
I can't imagine what you mean.
Though in all seriousness, if he was to use this comments section in one of his classes, I would love to watch a video of the students' reaction.
Naw, he wouldn't dare do that.
Then they'd feel they'd all deserve an A!
thr saga of atheistwatch
Post a Comment